Your furnace keeps your family cozy during the frigid winter months, so it’s disconcerting when something is wrong. One frequent issue is a furnace that continually kicks on and shuts back off again. This issue is called short cycling. It stresses your heating system and may cause costly repairs or even premature replacement.
Short cycling can happen for varying reasons. Before you book furnace repair, review the probable causes and how to take care of the situation.
1. Filthy Air Filter
The HVAC filter attracts airborne dust, hair and other substances that could cause problems for furnace. If you don’t replace the filter regularly, it can get filthy and reduce the airflow. When this occurs, a safety mechanism shuts off the furnace to stop overheating. Pull Out the filter, and if it’s dirty, install a new one. From now on, change the filter every 30 to 90 days to stop your furnace from short cycling.
2. Blocked Air Vents
A dirty filter isn’t the only trouble that can restrict airflow and overheat your furnace. Walk around your house and check for shut or crowded air vents. For proper system balance and performance, keep all registers open, even in unoccupied rooms.
3. Dirty Blower Wheel
The furnace blower consists of blades that move air through the ductwork. If they are covered in dirt, the air won’t move correctly, leading to overheating and short cycling. Regularly changing the filter is the easiest approach to stop a dirty blower wheel. If the blades are already dirty, request furnace maintenance to have them cleaned.
4. Faulty Thermostat
Check your thermostat next. This is the cortex of your HVAC system and tells the furnace what to do. Ensure the thermostat is set to heating mode and auto fan with the desired temperature displayed on the screen. Try putting in new batteries. Also, check whether the thermostat is in direct sunlight or near a heat source that could influence the temperature reading. If you use a smart thermostat, visit the manufacturer’s site for troubleshooting instructions.
5. Dirty Flame Sensor
The flame sensor switches off the gas valve when no burner flame going. The sensor can’t sense the flame if it’s sooty, so the gas turns off too soon and the furnace turns off. Leave the work of repairing a sooty flame sensor to a pro like Becht/Givens Service Experts.
6. Oversized Furnace
When it comes to home comfort equipment, bigger isn’t always better. A bigger system heats up your house too quickly, creating unpleasant temperature changes and short cycling. The only way to take care of this situation is to request new furnace installation.
If you try the solutions we mentioned here and you’re still having issues, it’s time to call in the pros at Becht/Givens Service Experts. We’ll examine the situation, diagnose the cause, and provide the necessary service. Our aim is to bring back indoor comfort, energy efficiency and reliable furnace performance for the rest of the season. And our services are backed by a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee for a year.* For more details about furnace short cycling, or to request HVAC repair, reach us at 502-785-8230 today!
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*Not applicable to the Advantage Program. See your signed Advantage Program Agreement for full details and exclusions. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee is subject to certain restrictions and limitations as set forth in the applicable Terms and Conditions.